THR Z's Postop thread

[Josephine]

I agree with the other ladies. My hysterectomy had zero effect fatigue-wise. Unlike my TKR

 

[Josephine]

That article is so full of assumptions and faulty conclusions, it's astounding it was published in a professional journal of repute!

For instance:

Instead, logic suggests that the factors that determine whether to continue exertion, or to withdraw and become inactive, would be motivational.
"logic suggests"? Hardly a scientifically devised opinion!

It is not difficult to envisage the motivational factors which might restrain the surgical patient. Indeed, psychological states that inhibit behaviour in response to stress are well known. In depression, the individual does not wish to move; in anxiety he is too frightened to move. Therefore the onset of fatigue after an operation may indicate the presence of anxiety and depression at this time as it does in other clinical conditions. We would expect, therefore, measures of postoperative fatigue to correlate with those of anxiety or depression.
"to envisage", "We would expect"??

the patients who are most fatigued postoperatively were those who reported most fatigue before surgery
:DOH:A wild assumption!

Differences in psychological factors could explain why fatigue occurs after abdominal surgery but not major joint arthroplasty; whereas the former generally signifies a threat to well-being or longevity, arthroplasty is usually performed to improve well-being.
All evidence to the contrary notwithstanding!

Animals recover rapidly after surgical or other injury, apparently requiring no convalescence. For example, greyhounds can return to racing three weeks after hysterectomy.
Nothing to do with the fact that dogs have no preconception of the surgery, nor that a dog's uterine:body volume is minuscule in comparison to humans and the modus operandi of the surgery is totally different.

 

[Jen]

Unlike lots of folks here though I take a fair amount of ibuprofen for aches and stiffness on a regular basis. I'm surprised and impressed when folks 6 to 10 weeks out are saying they rarely if ever use anything. If I didn't take some ibuprofen I would find it fairly daunting to hop on the rower or bike or do my exercises. (z is a wimp...)

Z

Z, your post-surgery activity has been pretty impressive. If I recall correctly, your post-op rehab exercise plan was rather intense right? And it seems like your out-patient facility is keeping you on your toes along with the exercises you are doing at home. Plus you're back to work. I'd be surprised if you didn't need the ibuprofen considering all you do and that you're still fairly early in the recovery game.

 

[charlie cyborg]

Hi John,

I see that you use a rowing machine!
I'm very interested to know how far you can get forward on your operated leg? Does the back of your calf get anywhere near the back of your thigh for instance.
My interest stems from my aspiration to start sculling when I can as all my family are scullers, but because of my previous hip joint I couldn't do it.


Charlie
ps I don't think 1o was too impressed by the Royal College paper :skeptical:

 

[Z15]

Charlie,

So I left with the hospital with no restrictions and on the rower the angle of your calf to your thigh is a function of the proximity of your chest to your knee when you go forward.

For me, it looks like my heel is about .3 Meters ..or about 1 Ft from my butt. I could probably crunch more, but at this point I am not pushing it. When I am rowing vigorously there is a fair bit of momentum in that slide forward and I am avoiding forcing anything. In a normal workout (which is now only approaching 15 minutes for me) I do that crunch 100's of times and I'm not wanting to strain anything.

SOOO....I think you can test the potential range. It is something like the distance between:

How close you can get your knee to your shoulder

AND

How close you can pull your heel up toward your butt...

Whichever is MORE.

On the rower it feels like one will limit the other to some degree...

Hope that helps,

Z

I happen to use a Concept2 Model B

 

[C Mac]

Hi Z,

I think your ibuprofen use is probably on par with many people's at 8 weeks post op -- lots of us (maybe it's mainly the US folks) are on the anti-inflammatory for a few months after surgery, especially once we hit that mark of going to outpatient PT and/or returning to our normal routines & exercise attempts.

Nice to hear that you are on the rower again!! I haven't been back on that machine yet. Prior to surgery I had a bit of an awkward form on it because of my hip pain, so I mainly used it for upper body and to pretend that I was on a quiet lake in the Adirondacks taking a little journey...

Always good to listen to your body and when you get a Nap Attack, try to listen

Take care,
Cardie

 

[charlie cyborg]

Hi John,

Thanks for the info.
It's good to hear that you can get your knee flexed to that extent .... with more to come by the sound of it.
I have used the Concept 2 quite a lot but with only one leg hooked in ... I still managed a 1000m in under 9 minutes so I'm hoping with two legs to get under 8 minutes!

Thanks again,

Charlie

 

[Z15]

Charlie,

That sounds like it would make for a very entertaining video (the one legged rowing)!!!

MY variation (pre-surgery) was to just use my arms...which I did for 4-6 weeks, and that was no fun at all. I was hoping to have my arms in decent shape so that when i started POST-surgery they could help out and do more than their share and make up for a feeble leg. In the end, my leg muscles on the unoperated side were way stronger than my arms so that was never an issue.

At this point I am doing just over 3K in 15 min....and work up a good sweat doing it. My biggest problem with a rowing machine is that it is SUCH A GOOD WORKOUT that I don't think I was ever able to do it for more than 30 min. I could run 7 miles..but the rowing machine would wipe me out...

But, I have years to get better at it, and it is a NO impact total body workout!

Z

 

[charlie cyborg]

Hi john,

Yep a lot of people in the rowing club did double takes and raised eyebrows until I explained things...
It is a great non impact workout .... unfortunately it can be VERY VERY boring for more than about 10 -15 minutes. My wife regularly does 10k!! She has her ipod plugged in with a "motivational" compilation of 80's Power Ballards.... not everybody's taste but it gets her through.
She gave me a few pointers about technique as she's been sculling for years and you'd be surprised how much difference it makes a good technique makes even on an "ergo" as the scullers call them. If you've not done so already there are lots of good videos about technique on You Tube.

Charlie

 

[dectjc]

Hi Z
Sounds like you are doing great, by the time spring gets here you should be ready for anything.
How is the elliptical going for you, I have my 6 week OS check tomorrow and hope he gives me the ok to use mine.

 

[Z15]

Tom,

I don't have an elliptical...just use one at PT.

I do the rower and the bike at home. I hope you get the green lite to use yours! ...it doesn't seem like there is any reason why you shouldn't, right?

As far as Spring goes, I think we might've timed our January hips just about right!! I was concerned that the snow and ice would limit my recovery, but:

A) we have very little in Massachusetts this year and
B) I don't do much of my recovering outside

I look fwd to some HOT summer days hiking or jogging :happy dance: along some trails. That will be the pay off for all the winter's drama...

I expect to be like you, Tom, some years between THR's. At this point I am less than thrilled imagining having to do months of recovery again...(oh well...there's no way to change THAT one)...but how did you feel about it emotionally?

Z

 

[dectjc]

Hi Z
Like you, I was less then thrilled at the prospect of doing it all again but the pain just got so bad there was no more putting it off. I hung on long enough so I could retire and that was a huge relief emotionally knowing I didnt have a time limit in getting back to work. And also, on the emotional side, having been through it once and knowing what to expect made it not seem so daunting. Practice makes perfect lol.

 

[Jen]

Z, are you using a regular elliptical (the traditional stand-up version)? My PT place has me using a recumbent elliptical, which I didn't even know existed. The combination of that with the recumbent bike is great, as the circular and back-and-forth motions feel great on the hips and are helping with mobility. The few times I tried a traditional elliptical (before the hips really went south) I found that it made my hip flexors feel very tight afterward and I had to really work to stretch them out. Has that been an issue at all?

 

[Z15]

Jen,

At PT it is an upright elliptical...but I have only done it for a mile each time. And no ill effects... I've always been a runner (fine with treadmills) but have never felt really comfortable on ellipticals...which is ok. At this point I have plenty that I can do.

Like I said early on...I liked how much even an upright bike loosened up my hips to start the day. I did drop the seat down a bit to increase the range of motion.... I find it to be a good gentle warmup!

So Tom...now I can be jealous of the fact that you have BOTH hips done...and you are retired. You are really living the dream sir!! :wink1:

Z

 

[dianemarie]

Z,

I, too, found the 2nd one a lot less stressful due to knowing what to expect, from all the pre-op stuff to the recovery. And to have that bone on bone pain gone is worth it all.

You are an inspiration with all your PT and exercising...keep up the good work!

 

[R1150RT]

I know what you mean. If you ever get the chance to attend a Total Immersion swim clinic, it will change your mind about being a sinker. It does take a fair amount of practice. When I stopped teaching scuba I lost free & convenient access to a pool, so the skills faded with time.

So I will see. I am what swimmers refer to as "a sinker". I can swim to save my life...have actually done a couple months where I swam regularly for fitness and it is very not my thing. More power to the swimmers of the world...you have my respect!

Z

 

[C Mac]

I was concerned that the snow and ice would limit my recovery, but:

A) we have very little in Massachusetts this year and
B) I don't do much of my recovering outside

I have an acquaintance whose father had his hip replaced twenty some years ago and part of his PT goals for discharge from the hospital was the ability to push a snowblower -- he lived in Minnesota.... :rolleyespink: I'm hoping he didn't have to go outdoors in his hospital gown to achieve it! :th_heehee:



Take care,
Cardie

 

[Z15]

That is quite the exit exam!!!

And in Florida would they have him wrestle a crocodile?? :DOH:

Z

 

[Horsey girl]

That's a great one. I needed the laugh.
Bea

 

[Z15]

TIGHT HAMSTRINGS: this worked...

Hi folks,

We were yapping about tight hamstrings the other day and I was hating the stretches I was trying ...but last week PT suggested this one (it looks like this)

...and no, that is not me.

The idea is that instead of a 20-30 second stretch, you get in this position in a doorway or against a wall, and you rest there for MINUTES..i try to do 5 min.

And it has worked. After about 5 times (5 days X 4 min per) I can touch my toes again.

The idea is to get your butt as close to the wall or door frame as you can and still COMPLETELY straighten your leg. Find a distance that is a good stretch but not painful...and just lay there and relax.

Worked for me!!

Z